Clothes wringer



June 16, 1931. L. A. HERSH 1,810,046

CLOTHES WRINGER Fiied June 27. 1929 s Sheets- Sheet 1 //VV/VTO/?. by LOVELL ,4. mews/4.

his ATTORNEY June 16, 1931.

L. A. HERSH CLOTHES WRINGER Filed June 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w vs/vram by LOVELL A. HERSH. A

his ATTbR/VES.

L. A. HERSH CLOTHES WRINGER June 16, 1931.

Filed June 19 29 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /N\/ENTOF YLOl ELL A. HEELS/4.

his ATTORNEK Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOVELL A. REESE, F DJ KYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY BOEN, 0F DAYTON, OHIO CLOTHES WRINGER Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to clothes wringers and one object of the invention is to provide a clothes wringer which will be simple in construction and compact in arrangement,

and in which the upper roller may be quickly released for bodily movement away from the lower roller in an emergency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes wringer in which the support for the upper roller will have a relatively small movement with relation to the support for the lower roller, and in which the upper roller may be released from its support for bodily movement with relation thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a clothes wringer in which the spring pressure on the support for the upper roller will be relieved when the upper roller is released from its support and will be restored when that roller is again connected with its support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes wringer with an improved device for automatically imparting tilting movement to the shutter when the direction o-Of rotation of the rollers is reversed.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a clothes wringer embodying my invention, partly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of one end of the wringer taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view of a shutter actuating device; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1 and showing the position of the mechanism during an initial stage of the operation for reconnecting the upper roller with its support; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the controlling devices for the upper roller, with the operating arm in section.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that the mechanism may take 1929. Serial No. 874,085.

various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The wringer here illustrated comprises a main frame consisting of upright hollow end members 10 and 11 which are rigidly connected one to the other by longitudinally extending members 12, which in the present instance constitute drain boards. The end frame members are rigid parts of the main frame and have no movement with relation to the other parts of the mechanism. Preferably the upper end of each end member of the mainframe is flat and is provided with a recess 13 to receive a bearing block 14 in which is journaled'one end of the shaft 15 of the lower roller 16. This shaft projects beyond one of the end frame members to enable it to be connected with suitable operating mechanism. The wringer may be mounted on a supporting structure in any suitable manner but this mounting forms no part of the present invention and is not here shown.

Arranged above each stationary end member 10 and 11, is a suplemental frame member or roller support 17 which is so connected with the stationary frame member or support that it may have yielding movement with relation thereto. Preferably each supplemental frame is slidably mounted on the stationary frame and, in the present construction, rods or plungers 18 are rigidly connected at their upper ends with the movable frame, near the opposite ends thereof. This connection may be of any suitable character and, in the present instance, the rods are screw threaded into sockets 19 formed integral with the movable frame member. The rods extend downwardly through suitable guides 20 carried by the stationary frame and are provided at their lower end with heads 21 which support washers 22 and springs 23 are coiled about the rods between the washers 22 and fixed parts of the stationary frame. such as the bosses forming the guides 20. The arrangement is such that the springs 23 will tend to move the movable frame toward the stationary frame but will yield to permit that frame to move away from the stationary frame. As here shown, the movable frame has a downwardly extending portion or apron 17 0 depending from three sides thereof about the corresponding sides of the end member of the main frame and thus enclosing the rods and springs which are located within the end member.

An upper roller 2% is supported on the movable frame in such a manner that it may have bodily .movement with relation thereto but is held normally against such bodily movement with relation to the movable frame and in such a position with relation to the lower roller that the contact of the two rollers will place the springs 23 under compression. lVhen clothes are assed between the two rollers the movable rame and the upper roller will move together against the action of the springs. In the present construction each movable frame has a vertical guideway 25 in which is slidably mounted a bearing 26 in which one end of the shaft 27 of the upper roller is j ournaled. This guideway is of sufficient length to permit the bearing and the upper roller to move with relation to the movable upper frame a distance sufficient to fully separate the two rollers and, in the present instance, the guideway is open at the top so that the bearing and upper roller may be entirely removed from the movable frame.

A controlling device is mounted on each movable frame to hold the upper roller normally against bodily movement with relation to that frame and to release the same for bodily movement with relation to said movable frame. As here shown, this controlling device is in the form of an arm 38 pivotally mounted at 29/1 on the movable frame at one side of the upper roller. The arm extends above the bearing 26 and has a part, such as a depending lug 29. to engage that bearing. In the present device the movable frame has an upwardly curved or arched portion 30 in which the guideway for the bearing is formed and the arm is curved upwardly to extend about the arched portion of the frame. The lug 29 is of such a size that it,may enter the guidcway 25 for the bearing. At its free end the controlling device or arm 28 is provided with means for securing the same to the movable frame on that side of the upper roller opposite its pivotal connection with the movable frame. This securing means is of such a character that when it is in its normal or locking position the upper roller will be pressed against the lower roller and vertical movement imparted to the movable frame against the action of the springs 23, thus causing the springs to be compressed to such an extent that they will exert normal wringing pressure on the movable frame and the upper roller, which is then held against bod ily movement with relation to the upper frame. When the securing means is moved to its inoperative position the controlling device or arm 28 is free to move away from the movable frame, thus releasing the upper roller for free movement with relation to the movable frame and relieving the spring pressure on the upper frame. The securing means may take various forms and, in the present device, the movable upper frame is provided near the free end of each controlling arm 28 with an upwardly extending lug 31, the upper end of which extends inwardly so as to provide an overhanging portion 32. Cooperating with the stationary lug or locking member 31 is a movable locking member carried by the free end of the controlling arm. As here shown, a stud 33 is rotatably mounted in the free end of the controlling arm and has a narrow or flat portion 34 adapted to cooperate with the overhanging portion 32 of the stationary locking lug and constituting a rotatable locking member. Connected with the rotatable stud 33 is an arm 35, preferably curved upwardly and forwardly and so arranged with relation. to the locking member that when the latter is in its operative position the operating arm will extend across the upper roller and will be spaced some distance above the same. When the operating arm is in its normal positionthe locking member 34 will engage beneath the overhanging portion 32 of the stationary lug 31 and will thus rigidly secure the free end of the controlling arm to the movable frame and inasmuch as the lug 29 of the controlling arm is in contact with the bearing for the upper roller, the upper roller is rigidly held against bodil movement with relation to the movable rame. A slight downward movement of the operating arm will rotate the locking member 34 far enough to move it out of engagement with the lug 31, thereby releasing the controllin arm and the upper roller. Preferably t e locking arms 35 at the two ends of the wringer are connected one with the other by a guard plate or canopy 36, so that either arm or the connecting canopy can be depressed to simultaneously actuate both locking devices to release the upper roller. I The arrangement of the canopy is such that it can be very quickly and easily actuated by the operator from any position which the operator may occupy with relation to the wringer, thereby enabling the upper roller to be instantly released in case of an emergency.

The release of the controlling devices for the upper roller also releases the movable frames and permits the latter to be moved downwardly by the springs 23, thereby relieving the spring pressure on the movable frame. When the upper roller is again operatively connected with the movable frames it is necessary that the spring pressure should be restored and the locking devices for the controlling arms are of such a character that the operation thereof to re-establish the connecti n between the upper roller and the controlling arms will again place the springs under compression. With the construction here shown the connection between the upper roller and the movable frame is re-established by swinging the operating arms and canopy rearwardly to a position such as that shown in F ig. 6. \Vhen the operating arms are in this position the locking members 34 are so positioned that the controlling arms may be moved downwardly into contact with the bearings for the upper roller and the edges of the locking members will be moved beneath the overhanging portions of the stationary locking lugs. \Vhen the operating arms are moved forwardly to their normal positions the edges of the locking members engage the overhanging portions of the respective lugs, with a cam action, and will thus force the controlling arms downwardly, thereby moving the upper roller downwardly with relation to the frame and pressing the upper roller against the lower roller with sufficient force to not only slightly distort the rollers but to move the movable frame upwardly against the action of the springs.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the locking devices and the operating arms and canopy in their normal positions, in which positions the locking members engage the stationary lugs near the ends of the latter and the operating arms have not yet reached the limit of their movement.

Preferably a yieldable detent is provided for this purpose and, in the present instance, a spring pressed pawl 37 is yieldably mounted in the rotatable stud 33 of one of the locking members and is adapted to enter a recess 38 'inovemcnt of the operating arms and indicating to the operator that they have been moved to their normal positions. When additional pressure is applied to the operating arms or "canopy the detent will yield to permit of the further movement of the operating arms and locking devices.

Arranged beneath the lower roller is a tiltable shutter 39 which may be moved to aposition to direct the water from the rollers to either one of the two drain boards. As here shown, this shutter is provided with downwardly extending arms 40 which are rigidly secured to a shaft 41 journaled in the end members of the frame. Rigidly secured to this shaft on the outer side of one of the end members of the frame is an upwardly extending arm 42 by means of which the shutter may be tilted from one position to the other. Mounted on the shaft 15 of the lower roller is an actuating device which will automaticah 1y shift the shutter from one position to the other when the direction of rotation of the rollers is reversed but which is of such a charactor that the roller may rotate with relation thereto when the shutter has reached the limit of its movements. This actuating device is here shown as comprising a hub consisting of two parts 43 to embrace the respective sides of the roller shaft and having their adjacent faces spaced one from the other. A curved 'of the hub may be recessed to receive friction material, as shown at 47. Each part of the hub has a downwardly extending arm 48, the two arms being spaced apart and arranged on opposite sides of the upwardly extending arm 42 of the shutter. Preferably the arms 48 are curved outwardly to permit the free movement of the upper end of the arm 42 with relation thereto. When the direction of rotation of the rollers is reversed the frictional contact between the actuating device and the shaft of the roller will cause the actuating device to rotate with the roller and one arm thereof will engage the shutter arm and shift the shutter to its opposite position. lVhen the shutter has reached the limit of its movement the arm 42 on the actuating device will he held against further rotation with the roller but the frictional contact between the hub of the actuating device and the shaft is such that the shaft may rotate freely in the hub of the actuating device.

lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to aperson skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a clothes wringer, a normally sta' tionary support, a roller carried by said support, a second support mounted for movement toward and from said stationary support, means to yieldably resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, a roller mounted for bodily movement with relation to said movable support, a device to hold the last mentioned roller normally against bodily movement with relation to said movable support, and means operablewith relation to said device to release said last mentioned roller for bodily movement with relation to'said movable support.

2. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a roller carriedby said support, a second support mounted for movement toward and from said stationary support, means to yieldably resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, a roller mounted for bodily movement with relation to said movable support, a device carried by said movable support to normally prevent the bodily movement of the last mentioned roller with relation thereto in a direction away from the first mentioned roller, and means for connecting said device with said movable support in operative relation to said last mentioned roller, said means being movable with relation to said device to disconnect the latter from said movable suport.

3. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a rollercarried by said support, a second support mounted for movement toward and from said stationary support, means to yieldably resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, a roller mounted for bodily movement with relation to said movable support, a device mounted on said movable support to control the position of the last mentioned roller, and means acting on said device to cause it to press said last mentioned roller against the first mentioned roller and there by move said movable support from said stationary support, and to release said device to permit said last mentioned roller to move bodily with relation to said movable support.

4. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support movably mounted on said stationary support,yieldab1e means to resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device for controlling, the bodily movement of said upper roller with relation to said movable support, and cooperating parts carried respectively by said device and said movable support to connect said device with said movable support, one of said parts to resist the movement of said slidable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said slidable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device movably mounted on said slidable support to control the bodily movement of said upper roller with relation to said slidable support, and means acting on said device to cause it to hold said upper roller normally against bodily movement with relation to said slidable support and movable with relation to said device to release the latter and permit said upper roller to move bodily with relation to said slidable support. 6. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support slidably mounted on said stationary support, yieldable means to resist the movement of said slidable sup-- port from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said slidable support and adapfed for bodily movemcnt with relation thereto, a controlling device mounted on said slidable support, and a locking device to cause said controlling device to move said upper roller toward and hold the same normally in contact with said lower roller and to release said upper roller to permit the same to move bodily with relation to said slidable support away from said lower roller.

7. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support movably mounted on said stationary support, yieldable means to resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supporter-l by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device pivotally mounted on said movable support at one side of said upper roller and having means to control the bodily movement of said upper roller, and means to detachably connect the free end of said pivoted device with said movable support at the other side of said upper roller.

8. In a clothes vvringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support movably mounted on said stationary support, ieldable means to resist the movement of sai movable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device pivotally mounted on said movable support at one side of said upper roller and arranged to control the bodily movement of said upper roller, and cooperating locking members carried by said movable support and said pivoted device at the other side of said upper roller, one of said locking members being movable and being arranged to engage the other locking member with a cam action to move said pivoted device downwardly and then hold it against upward movement.

9. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support movably mounted on said stationary support, yieldable means to resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device pivotally mounted on said movable support at one side of said upper roller and arranged to control the bodily port from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device pivotally mounted on said movable support at one side of said upper roller and arranged to control the bodily movement of said upper roller, a locking member carried by said movable support at the other side of said upper roller and having an overhanging part, a locking member rotatably mounted on the free end of said pivoted device and having a paigt arranged to extend beneath the overhanging part of the first mentioned locking member, an operating member so connected with said rotatable locking member that when said operating member is moved to a position transverse to the upper roller said rotatable locking member will be moved into locking engagement with the overhanging part of the first mentioned locking member and when said operating member is moved a further distance in the same direction said rotatable locking member will be moved out of engagement with said over-' hanging part to release said pivoted device.

11. in a clothes wringer, a normally stationary support, a lower roller carried by said support, a second support movably mounted on said stationary support,yieldable means to resist the movement of said movable support from said stationary support, an upper roller supported by said movable support and adapted for bodily movement with relation thereto, a device pivotally mounted on said movable support at one side of said upper roller and arranged to control the bodily movement of said upper roller, a locking member carried by said movable support at the other side of said upper roller and having an overhanging part, a locking member rotatablv mounted on the free end of said pivoted device and having a part arranged to extend beneath the overhanging part of the first mentioned locking meml'ier. an operating member so connected with said rotatable locking member that when said operating member is moved to a position transverse to its upper roller said rotatable locking member will be moved into locking engagement with the overhanging part of the last mentioned locking member and when said operating member is moved a further distance in the same direction said rotatable locking member will be moved out of engagement with sa d overhanging part to release said pivoted device, and yieldable means to retain said operating member in the first mentioned position.

12. In a clothes wringer, a normally sta-,

tionary frame, a bearing carried by said frame, a lower roller having a shaft mounted in said bearing, a supplemental frame movably mounted on said stationary frame and having a guideway, a bearing slidably mounted in said guidcway, an upper roller having a shaft mountedi in said slidable bearing, means to yieldably resist the movement of said supplemental framefrom said stationary frame, a device movably mounted on said supplemental frame, extending across the shaft of said upper roller and having a part arranged to engage saidslidable bearing, and means to rigidly but releasably secure said device to said supplemental frame with said part in contactwith said slidable bearing.

13. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary frame, a bearing carried by said frame, a lower roller having a shaft mounted in said bearing, a supplemental frame movably mounted on said stationary frame and having a guideway, a bearing; slidably mounted in said guideway, an upper roller having a shaft mounted in said slidable bearing, means to yieldably resist the movement of said supplemental frame from said stationary frame, a device movably mounted on said supplemental frame, extending across the shaft of said upper roller and having a part arranged to engage said slidable bearmg, and means acting on said device to cause the same to press said upper roller downwardly with relation to said supplemental frame and hold said upper roller against upward movement with relation to said supplemental frame.

14. In a clothes \vringer, a normally stationary frame. a bearing carried by said frame. a lower roller having a shaft mounted in said bearing, a supplemental frame movably mounted on said stationary frame and having a guideway, a bearing slidably mounted in said guideway, an upper roller having a shaft mounted in said slidable bearing. means to yieldably resist the movement of said supplemental frame from said stationary frame, a device pivotally mounted on said supplemental frame, extending transversely to said upper roller and having a part to engage said slidable bearing. cooperating locking devices carried respectively by said supplemental frame and the free end of said pivoted device to rigidly but releasably connect the free end of said pivoted device with said supplemental frame.

15. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary frame having vertical guideways, a

lower roller mounted in said frame, a supplemental frame arranged above said stationary sup lemental frame, and means operable wit relation to said device to secure said device against movement with relation to said supplemental frame'and to release said device for such movement.

16. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary frame having vertical guideways, a lower roller mounted in said frame, a supplemental frame arranged above said stationary frame, rods secured to said supplemental frame and slidably mounted in said guideways, springs acting on said rods to resist the movement of said supplemental frame from said stationary frame, a bearing movably mounted on said supplemental frame, an upper roller having a shaft journaled in said bearing, a device movably mounted on said supplemental frame and having, a part to engage said bearing and depress said upper roller with relation to said supplemental frame, and means to secure said device to said supplemental frame with said part in engagement with said bearing.

17. In a clothes wringer, a normally stationary frame having vertical guideways, a lower roller mounted in said frame, a supplemental frame arranged above said stationary frame, rods secured to said supplemental frame and slidably mounted in said guideways, springs acting on said rods to resist the movement of said-supplemental frame from said stationary frame, a bearing movably mounted on said supplemental frame, an upper roller having a shaft journaled in said bearing, a device movably mounted on said supplemental frame and having a part to engage said bearing and depress said upper roller with relation to said supplemental frame, and means to impart downward movement to said device and then hold the same against upward movement. with relation to said supplemental frame.

18. In a clothes wringer, a stationary frame, a lower roller mounted in said stationary frame, a supplemental frame mounted for vertical sliding movement with relation to said stationary frame, springs acting on said supplemental frame to resist its movement from said stationary frame, an upper roller su ported on said supplemental frame for bo ily movement with relation thereto, and means to press said upper roller frame, a pair of rollers supported b movement, and an arm connected with said shutter and extending upwardly therefrom,

an actuating device comprising two members having hub portions to embrace the respective sides of the shaft of one of said rollers and each having a downwardly extending arm, and a resilient device to connect said members and to cause said hub ortions to frictionallg' engage said shaft, t 1e arms of said mem rs being spaced apart and arranged on opposite sides of the first mentioned arm.

20. In a clothes wringer comprising a said frame and each having a shaft, a s utter mounted beneath said rollers for tilting movement, and an arm connected with said shutter and extending upwardly therefrom, an actuating device comprising a two part hub to embrace the shaft on one of said rollers, and a curved spring extending about the ,upper portions of both parts of said hub and having its ends connected with the respective parts of said hub below the axis of said shaft, each part of said hub having a downwardly extending arm and the two hub arms being spaced apart and arranged on opposite sides of the first mentioned arm.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

' LOVELL A. HERSH. 

